Question

An astronaut in his space suit and with a propulsion unit (empty of its gas propellant) strapped to his back has a mass of 146 kg. The astronaut begins a space walk at rest, with a completely filled propulsion unit. During the space walk, the unit ejects some gas with a velocity of +30. m/s. As a result, the astronaut recoils with a velocity of -0.39 m/s. After the gas is ejected, the mass of the astronaut (now wearing a partially empty propulsion unit) is 165 kg. What percentage of the gas propellant was ejected from the completely filled propulsion unit?

Answer 1

momentum conserved.
assuming this is an impulse..

M=146
m=mass of gas emitted
m*30=(165+m).39
m(29.61)=165*.39
m=you do it.

percentage=m/(165+m-149)